Westside Digest

Santa Monica : County Calls for Security Survey at Courthouse

The county Board of Supervisors has ordered its staff to join the Santa Monica Superior Court in an "immediate security survey" of conditions at the courthouse in the wake of a shoot-out there May 23 that left an inmate dead.

Supervisor Deane Dana, who made the motion, said judges at the courthouse "believe the incident would not have occurred if structural improvements had been made" to increase security.

The melee, involving four sheriff's deputies and two inmates, broke out when the inmates overpowered and beat an unarmed bailiff after she opened the door of their holding room. One inmate was shot and killed by a deputy who attempted to break up the brawl. Four deputies were injured.